2019 Home for the Holidays

2019 Home for the Holidays LINCOLN DAILY NEWS November 27, 2019 Page 41 “If someone, for instance, is feeling upset during the holidays because they’ve lost a loved one, it’s ok to be upset. But maybe look for ways to find new meaning in that holiday,” says Hodges. Hodges says that healthy boundaries and limitations help to prevent feeling overwhelmed. “Recognize that you can’t do everything all at one time,” says Hodges. It’s helpful to take the season one day at a time, even if those days have so many stops in and of themselves. Sometimes people try to cope with these feelings on their own. Certain coping mechanisms, like alcohol or social isolation are unfortunately common, but they should also be avoided. “Try not to isolate from other people. We are social creatures, so being around others often times helps us,” says Hodges. We don’t help anyone, least of all ourselves, if we try to treat holiday blues with literal depressants. These sorts of coping mechanisms are typically seen in adults during this time of year. But what about the children in our lives? Tips to help your kids avoid getting overwhelmed during the holidays We may think sometimes that children are the most excited by the holiday season. Yet children are easily overwhelmed by holidays, even if they do not know how to express what they are feeling. The sheer amount of activity at a holiday party can be a bit much for a child, even if they seem to have the energy for it. This video features Dr. Sharon Saline, a psychologist who works with children. Saline offers her own advice for avoiding overload during the holidays. These tips aren’t just for kids, but for anyone needing help with those overwhelming feelings. Saline starts by saying it helps to be organized around the holidays. “The only way to get organized is to make a list,” says Saline. Continued u